Month: January 2024

354: The Fall of Singapore

Mark Podcast

Japanese soldiers marching through the streets of Singapore following its surrender.

Japanese forces captured Singapore in February 1942, a disastrous turn of events for Britain.

Soon afterward, Dutch forces in the East Indies and American forces in the Philippines also surrendered.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

The Pines of Rome
Composed in 1924 by Ottorino Respighi. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Army Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme


Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

353: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

Mark Podcast

World War II American propaganda poster.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor mooted the political division between interventionists and isolationists in the United States. America was now united like never before.

In the Pacific, the Japanese offensive pressed on.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 4 in F minor
Composed in 1878 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme


Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

352: Climb Mount Niitaka II

Mark Podcast

Photograph taken by a Japanese pilot during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ford Island, in the center, is in the middle of the harbor. You can make out the four pairs of ships moored on Battleship Row on the far side of the island. The spout of water was made by a torpedo striking USS West Virginia.

The US Army and Navy installations in and around Pearl Harbor were caught completely off guard by the Japanese attack.

This attack was only one in a series of attacks on Malaya, the Philippines, and several US-controlled Pacific Islands.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 3 in E♭ Major
Composed in 1804 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme


Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

351: Climb Mount Niitaka I

Mark Podcast

Japanese sailors on the deck of an aircraft carrier, saluting the pilots as they take off on December 7, 1941

The Japanese government lost patience with the negotiations with the Americans, who stubbornly insisted that a withdrawal from China be part of any peace agreement.

The Japanese continued the talks anyway, because they provided useful cover as the Imperial Navy planned its attack on Pearl Harbor.

  • Listen now:


Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Composed in 1808 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme


Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.